Costume Information

Seeing as Symphony Of The Night is one of my top-ten games of all time, my initial idea for my first cosplay was Alucard. That's "white hair, black cape" Alucard, not "red suit and shades" Alucard.

But, the more I looked at it, the more I felt like it was beyond my admittedly meagre ability, so I went to find another Castlevania character that would (hopefully) have been easier to both make the outfit and pull off the look.

So... yeah. Aeon. One step shy from being Castlevania's answer to Doctor Who. Strikingly dressed, possessing at least one time-related prop and gifted with the capability to traverse time.

As for what the hardest part is likely gonna be on this project? Damn near everything!

Journal

Origin's AeonLog #15: The MCM Expo Post-Mortem (Posted 5th June 2013)

Well, let's see..! I was up until 4am on the Friday of the Expo finishing off the sword, I had to resew two of the buttons during the weekend, I lost one completely, the sword (predictably) broke on Saturday afternoon and, thanks to the heat of London in early-summer, I was sweating more during the day than Lee Evans.

But it was a hell of a lot of fun. Just about everything could have been better but, with it being my first time trying this cosplay lark, there's been nothing but lessons to learn for the future; chief among which being COSPLAY SOMETHING EASIER! *flails*

All that aside, the fact I was still getting people commenting about how awesome the whole thing looked was a definite morale boost. Helping someone in the Ramada in their quest to "hug every single cosplayer", the guy on Friday who was the first to recognise who I was cosplaying; in fact everyone who took a photo or talked to me - whether in the hotel, the epic queues, or out near the stairs - you all made my weekend. :D

"...I'm newbie cosplayer Origin... and these will be the longest and most frantic 80 hours of my life..."

As it stands, all that's between me and calling this complete is the Clock Sword; approximately 140cm of awkward shapes - points, curves and circles, oh my! - and other assorted stuff.

With the last time I cut or sanded anything for the purposes of a project being almost eleven years ago, when I was in high school, I'm way out of practice with getting surfaces even and level. But, if all else fails, I can just say that Aeon's been in a few fights and it's dinged up his precious sword/timepiece!

Right now, I've just finished making the thirteen holes around the clock's bezel. Still quite a ways to go, but here's hoping!

Origin's AeonLog #13: Judgement Time (see what I did there?) (Posted 9th May 2013)

With almost all of the pieces of the Clock Sword except for the clock bezel and the mounting point for the winder cut out, it's just the task of sanding them into shape, sealing them, painting and getting them stuck together.

I'm toying with the idea of having the blade and pommel be detachable somehow, to give me the option of taking them off and handing them in (leaving just the central clock) if I want a break from lugging the whole thing around.

As for the thirteen Soul Keys? As much as I'd love to have them, I don't think there'd be enough time to figure out how to make them before the Expo. *sigh*

Origin's AeonLog #12: Curse You, Real Life! (Posted 1st May 2013)

Well, where to begin?

With around a month to go before the big day, I decided to call upon my "Big Back-Up Plan", which entails using the Aeon outfit I ordered near the start of this project.

While it puts an end to my ability to enter the Masquerade this time around, it does allow me a much greater chance to get the rest of the cosplay done in time. So now, I have three weeks to:

- Finish making the Clock Sword
- Do the white detail on Aeon's boots
- Turn the glasses into an epic monocle
- And figure out where the chains go.

I -should- have everything I need to finish everything off. And, once that's done, all that remains is to practice putting the whole thing on and trying to look awesome. :D

Updatery: Check those middle two from the list. And after solving a small issue with the keyring, it's just down to that damn sword. After that, I can get the chain placement finalised and be all cosplayed up and ready to go!

Origin's AeonLog #11A: All Hail The Pants! (Posted 16th April 2013)

After some application of more Clarksonian Theory (translated: disregard eyelet tool, use HAMMER) to the latter 28 eyelets, the pants're done and laced up, minus a bit of trimming (left leg, I'm looking at you!).

Seeing as my legs will be mobile just about all day, the fact that I couldn't get even two of the 56 eyelets to be in a straight line shouldn't be too obvious. But still! AEON PANTS, AWAAY!

After what seemed like forever with the belief that the house's resident eyelet tool had a bit missing, I decided to take the fallback option and bash them into submission with a hammer. Because, sometimes, the Clarkson school of getting things done actually works.

Aside from a little untidiness inside many of the holes (bits of metal curling the wrong way), the first of two legs of Aeon's pants are finally done. Once the black cord is linking them up, I'm hoping the mistakes won't be too visible.

Ah, well. Only another 28 eyelets to go!

Origin's AeonLog #10: April Already? D: (Posted 6th April 2013)

Yup, it's April. Given that it's my first time trying this whole "make a cosplay in time for a 250-mile trip", I'd say the worries are definitely starting to set in. Mostly due to how much is still left to do. Note to self: cosplay something simpler next time!

On a brighter note, my dad made an unexpected visit with a couple of inch-thick sheets of styrofoam. If I can make the clock sword out of that as opposed to the wood, it'll make things a lot less stressful/exhausting when I'm down in London. Onward!!

Origin's AeonLog #9: Confidence Rising... (Posted 25th March 2013)

Broke out the Got2B glue/spray and had another try at emulating Aeon's hair style. I'd call this done (or at the very least, better than the first time)! What do you lot think?

Origin's AeonLog #8: Getting There Slowly! (Posted 17th March 2013)

The boots for the cosplay are beginning to take shape. After finding a rectangle-buckled, grey belt in Preston, I managed to buy six of them and, after cutting them down to size and punching in some new holes, the plain belts are looking more Aeon-ish.

Origin's AeonLog #7: Moar Buying! (Posted 14th March 2013)

Another day, another couple of things bought for the cosplay project. As I didn't get all of the chain I needed the first time around, I got some more - this time for the space between the large buttons on the coat.

Add that to a decently long piece of wood which, hopefully, will become a decent representation of the bigger parts of the clock sword. Tomorrow, it's gonna be fabric shopping. Oh, how the fun continues to mount. :D

Origin's AeonLog #6: Progressing Sloooowly! (Posted 9th March 2013)

The search to get everything I'll need to get this cosplay done continues! I'll hopefully have the pattern for a tailcoat - which I can then modify heavily - by the end of the weekend.

But, in order to have something to show for my efforts thus far, I had a go at styling the wig to give it a more fitting look. For the first attempt, it could've worked out a little better, but still! At least the fringe isn't being eaten by my own eyes now.

And no, I'm not a photographer! Whatever gave you that idea? Note to self: Don't angle yourself directly in front of the bedroom light next time! <_<

UPDATE: Okay, so maybe it's not all, after all. After stumbling across someone's (I forgot who it was!) stellar work at transferring Aeon's 3D model over to XNALara, I decided to grab it. Now I have an awesome reference for future work. :D

Origin's AeonLog #4: The Boots (Posted 22nd February 2013)

Slowly, but surely, more parts of the cosplay are coming in. Today, it's some boots. While they're probably going to be infuriating to work with, they're just about perfect, shape-wise. Now I just have to find candidates for the stuff that needs to go on it.

Additional: I had my first go at drawing the outline (with a pencil so it's near invisible and can be washed off) of the white detailing on Aeon's boots. If I get the shape/template right when the time comes, I should just be able to make four exact copies and go from there. Hopefully. :D

Two black ties, 48 silver eyelets, a cheap pair of glasses and some old-style keys made out of cast iron. Around £16 for the lot. Sure, the actual suit still eludes me, but still. Quite a nice haul to boost the morale after the debacle of yesterday. :D

Origin's AeonLog #2: That First Search (Posted 20th February 2013)

Don't you just hate it when you feel like you've searched all over the centre of town for pieces of a cosplay and turned up next to nothing?

On the bright side, I did find a candidate(s) for the core of the Clock Sword's blade: a broom handle from a local pound shop. There's still the better part of 12 weeks until the convention actually starts, so these kinds of things are good to keep in mind for stages further down the line!

But I got a plain white button shirt for three whole English pounds and I found a belt in my wardrobe which - after painting/dying - could work. The real trick is how to nail the look of the undershirt.

From the looks of it, it's three (or at least two) different garments cobbled together; the white button shirt for its shoulders and collar and a more casual-looking black/dark gray striped shirt, vertical stripes on the chest, horizontal on the long sleeves. And then there's that deliberately long necktie/bow thingy...

...this list is immense. Regarding the challenge, Top Gear is springing to mind. "How hard could it be?". Very, as it turns out. :D

Origin's AeonLog #1: Hotel Booked (Posted 20th February 2013)

I now have a place to sleep between convention days. While many people are going to be making multiple cosplays for the Expo, I'm gonna stick with just one. Y'know, being a first-timer and all that?

But, thankfully, family members are willing to help me out. Something tells me I'm gonna need it. In less stressful news, however, I now have a glue gun. Just in case. ;)